Psychologists and counselors provide ongoing therapy services to preschoolers through young adults to address concerns related to mood, behavior, and social skills. In children and adolescents, playing, drawing, building, and pretending, as well as talking, are important ways of sharing feelings and resolving problems.

Parent training, is a family of treatment programs that aims to change parenting behaviors, teaching parents positive reinforcement methods for improving pre-school and school-age children’s behavior problems (such as aggression, hyperactivity, temper tantrums, and difficulty following directions). Treatment focuses on parents learning to provide positive reinforcement, such as praise and rewards, for children’s appropriate behaviors while setting proper limits, using methods such as removing attention for inappropriate behaviors.

Social skills are the tools that enable people to communicate, learn, ask for help, get needs met in appropriate ways, get along with others, make friends, develop healthy relationships, and protect themselves. Children or adolescents who have difficulty forming age-appropriate friendships, demonstrate avoidance of social situations, or impulsive or aggressive behaviors that interfere with successful social functioning may benefit from participation.

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. Emotional self-regulation or regulation of emotion is the ability to respond to the ongoing demands of experience with the range of emotions in a manner that is socially tolerable and sufficiently flexible to permit spontaneous reactions as well as the ability to delay spontaneous reactions as needed.

A psychological evaluation assesses your child’s learning, behavior, and emotional functioning to identify conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, or learning differences. Therapy focuses on helping your child practice coping skills, manage emotions, and improve social and academic functioning over time. Evaluations provide insight and recommendations, while therapy helps apply those strategies in everyday life.

An evaluation may be helpful if your child struggles with school, has frequent emotional outbursts, or faces challenges with friendships or behavior. Signs can include difficulty paying attention, high anxiety, or trouble learning new skills. A professional assessment provides clarity, identifies underlying factors, and guides effective strategies for home, school, and therapy.

It’s natural to feel concerned about labeling your child. A diagnosis is not a label; it is a tool that provides clarity and helps families and schools understand a child’s unique needs. A proper diagnosis guides treatment, accommodations, and support strategies so your child can thrive, both academically and socially, while building confidence and coping skills.

Yes, it is possible to identify signs of autism in toddlers, though early identification can be nuanced. Early evaluations focus on social communication, play patterns, sensory responses, and developmental milestones. Early detection is beneficial because it allows families to access interventions and supports that can significantly improve social, emotional, and communication outcomes.

We provide assessments and therapy for ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, learning differences, and behavioral challenges. Each plan is customized to your child’s unique strengths, needs, and goals. Our aim is to support your child’s academic success, emotional well-being, and social growth.

A psychological evaluation includes interviews with both parents and the child, standardized testing, behavioral observations, and rating scales. These tools provide a comprehensive understanding of your child’s cognitive abilities, learning strengths and challenges, emotional functioning, and social skills. After the assessment, you will receive a detailed report that includes findings, diagnoses (if applicable), and practical recommendations. These insights help guide support at home, school, and in therapy to help your child succeed.

Therapy sessions are engaging, age-appropriate, and tailored to each child’s needs. Techniques may include play therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), social skills training, and problem-solving exercises. Therapy provides a safe and supportive space for children to practice coping strategies, build emotional regulation skills, and develop confidence in social and academic settings. Sessions can also involve parent guidance and collaboration to reinforce skills at home and school.

If you notice ongoing changes in mood, behavior, sleep, school performance, or social interactions, counseling can help identify and address underlying issues. Common concerns include anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral challenges, social skills, grief, trauma, and family transitions.

Parent involvement varies by age and goals. For younger children, parents are often active participants, possibly attending joint sessions or coaching in addressing emotional or behavioral concerns of their child. For teens, sessions may be primarily individual with periodic parent check-ins. Therapists maintain confidentiality but share general themes, skills, and safety concerns. For teens, privacy helps build trust, but parents are updated on progress and major concerns. Therapists will share strategies or “home practice” ideas within treatment.

Occupational therapy (OT) and play therapy can look similar because both use play-based activities, but they serve different goals. OT can help build functional skills, such as fine and gross motor coordination, sensory regulation, handwriting, attention, and self-care. OTs focus on improving how the body and brain work together to complete everyday tasks. On the other hand, Play Therapy uses play as a therapeutic language to help children express feelings, process experiences, and build emotional and social skills. Play becomes the way children communicate and work through challenges with the therapist. Both services can complement each other — a child might see an occupational therapist for motor or sensory support and a play therapist for emotional or behavioral growth.